My son has applied to join the army - he's 16 in May

[BG2015]

Military has been his goal for a while but he was talking about A levels then RAF which I was just about happy with.

Now he's told us he's applied online to the army and already filled in a medical questionnaire and one stating he has no criminal records. He's very determined.

He's very bright and is predicted to get 7 & 8's in his GCSEs. He's talking about an armoured engineering role. I just feel like he's wasting his potential.

I'm just lost and trying to find some support from mums who have experienced this. Me and his dad are trying to be supportive but his age worries me and I'm so worried he will regret it.

My son joined at 16 . It was the making of him.
I spent days crying and worrying but he bloody loved it .
At 16 they are incredibly well looked after x

Ds1 has started talking about this recently. I'm not best pleased.
We started watching the tv series, 'raw recruits : squaddies', where they are at Harrogate. Instead of putting Ds1 off, as we'd hoped, he liked it more.

Sorry OP, I'd be devastated.

^So would I

Id encourage a levels and Sandhurst as well.

If he's intelligent it won't be a waste... I got my masters in the RAF and the promotion prospects are fantastic. He could certainly earn more money and have far more responsibility than a civilian job. In my first job I was responsible for 600!

The adventure is also incredible... I skied, sailed, climbed you name it.

I never got anywhere near the front line (most people don't due to the amount of support roles required).

Now he wants to go infantry that's another matter...

IF he wants to go infantry that was meant to say!

He's looking at armoured engineering. So tanks, big vehicles, building bridges etc.

There's an open day at Harrogate in March so although it's nearly a 3 hour journey I think we will go and look round.

It's not devastated me, I'm just worried that at 15 he's choosing th correct path.

Needs Wellbeck Qualifications if he wants to be an actual engineer. Maybe I don't understand what is engineering in OP's sentence.
Recruiters can advise, and Harrogate Open Day is excellent idea.
Get him to see the full pathway he needs to follow to get what he wants.

DS is intelligent & in tanks :).

My dd wanted to join the navy. They did a week away where you could experience that regiment. She enjoyed the week, did all the forms then changed her mind.
We've always instilled in them the need for plan abc even d. We're now on plan e possibly and it's going well.

He may not be be old enough to start in September this year if he's 16 in May.

This was my DD, wanted the "challenge" of getting in etc

My utter relief that she developed nut allergy which is one of the few medical conditions they don't accept.

You can apply to join at 15 years 7 months

Ah ok, I understand not wanting to 'forbid it. I think I would do so, although I can see arguments against. But in your shoes I think I'd advise what many better informed pp than I am have, and get him to Army Careers for a really good discussion of his options. In any case, I hope you both end up content.